Comments on: Road trip–Hands On Optics http://richastro.org/index.php/events/road-trip-hands-on-optics/ Richmond Astronomical Society Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:49:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Bill Jeffries http://richastro.org/index.php/events/road-trip-hands-on-optics/comment-page-1/#comment-234 Bill Jeffries Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:00:03 +0000 http://richastro.org/?p=659#comment-234 Hands On Optics Results I have used my LUNT SUN SOLAR SYSTEM Filter set on Megrez 90 MM and the sun looks great. I was able to see one flare that lasted about an hour but was not dramatic but interesting; there was one sunspot in the lower portion but very small and soon faded away. Very satisfied with the set-up. Additionally, after much dithering around at the store I have acquired a Celestron CGEM mount for the Megrez 90mm and it looks lost setting up there, seeing how this mount was made for the HD Celestron OTAs of 8" to 11"! I am trying to learn how it works but have not had the opportunity actually align except on the sun during the daytime. I did run through the align process in the garage during the day and appears to be functioning as advertised. So much rain and cloudy nights. Hands On Optics Results
I have used my LUNT SUN SOLAR SYSTEM Filter set on Megrez 90 MM and the sun looks great. I was able to see one flare that lasted about an hour but was not dramatic but interesting; there was one sunspot in the lower portion but very small and soon faded away. Very satisfied with the set-up.

Additionally, after much dithering around at the store I have acquired a Celestron CGEM mount for the Megrez 90mm and it looks lost setting up there, seeing how this mount was made for the HD Celestron OTAs of 8″ to 11″!
I am trying to learn how it works but have not had the opportunity actually align except on the sun during the daytime. I did run through the align process in the garage during the day and appears to be functioning as advertised. So much rain and cloudy nights.

]]> By: Dave Walton http://richastro.org/index.php/events/road-trip-hands-on-optics/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Dave Walton Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:42:39 +0000 http://richastro.org/?p=659#comment-115 I too enjoyed the trip. I'm a relative newbie so really enjoyed looking and touching all the fun toys!!! I ended up buying a Light Pollution Filter and a 50mm, right-angle viewfinder for my scope. That should help out with the "stiff neck"... If I had won the lottery and there was more room in the car, I would have brought back all kinds of goodies! I too enjoyed the trip. I’m a relative newbie so really enjoyed looking and touching all the fun toys!!! I ended up buying a Light Pollution Filter and a 50mm, right-angle viewfinder for my scope. That should help out with the “stiff neck”…
If I had won the lottery and there was more room in the car, I would have brought back all kinds of goodies!

]]> By: Tim Streagle http://richastro.org/index.php/events/road-trip-hands-on-optics/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Tim Streagle Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:04:05 +0000 http://richastro.org/?p=659#comment-112 I enjoyed the trip to Hands On and ended up purchasing an Antares twist-lock 2 to 1-1/4 inch eyepiece adaptor, a Telrad with extra mount plate. The Celestron rep was giving away small toboggan hats with the company logo so I got one (it was promptly stolen by my wife when I got home - it's okay, it didn't fit my bus-head anyway). I enjoyed the demo of the Vixen Starbook and holding the really cute but well built AT66ED refractor - it came with a nice aluminum case for only $305. Another great deal was to be had on a Celestron CG-4 mount (manual) for $195. I had a hard time passing it up but we would have had to tie it on top to get it home. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of the trip was the conversation in the van. It definitely wasn't Bill and John's snore-fest in the back seat! : ) I enjoyed the trip to Hands On and ended up purchasing an Antares twist-lock 2 to 1-1/4 inch eyepiece adaptor, a Telrad with extra mount plate. The Celestron rep was giving away small toboggan hats with the company logo so I got one (it was promptly stolen by my wife when I got home – it’s okay, it didn’t fit my bus-head anyway). I enjoyed the demo of the Vixen Starbook and holding the really cute but well built AT66ED refractor – it came with a nice aluminum case for only $305. Another great deal was to be had on a Celestron CG-4 mount (manual) for $195. I had a hard time passing it up but we would have had to tie it on top to get it home. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of the trip was the conversation in the van. It definitely wasn’t Bill and John’s snore-fest in the back seat! : )

]]> By: William Jeffries http://richastro.org/index.php/events/road-trip-hands-on-optics/comment-page-1/#comment-109 William Jeffries Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:42:42 +0000 http://richastro.org/?p=659#comment-109 I enjoyed the trip to Hands on Optics with the intent to purchase the latest CGEM Celestron Mount but after seeing it and its size I backed off on this and went on to other offerings in the store. I purchased a Lunt Solar 50mm Hydrogen-alpha Front Mount Filter ro my Megrez 90 for viewing the sun and trust it will work out as I did not want to purchase another telescope at the the price of $1850. View the link below to see what this looks like. It is more in cost than they say in the on-line offering. Cost: $995.00 http://luntsolarsystems.com/ls50f_ha.html I enjoyed the trip to Hands on Optics with the intent to purchase the latest CGEM Celestron Mount but after seeing it and its size I backed off on this and went on to other offerings in the store.
I purchased a Lunt Solar 50mm Hydrogen-alpha Front Mount Filter ro my Megrez 90 for viewing the sun and trust it will work out as I did not want to purchase another telescope at the the price of $1850. View the link below to see what this looks like. It is more in cost than they say in the on-line offering. Cost: $995.00

http://luntsolarsystems.com/ls50f_ha.html

]]> By: cal http://richastro.org/index.php/events/road-trip-hands-on-optics/comment-page-1/#comment-106 cal Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:22:23 +0000 http://richastro.org/?p=659#comment-106 Thanks for the write up. Sounds like a great trip.... maybe next year. cal Thanks for the write up. Sounds like a great trip…. maybe next year.

cal

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